Consciousness is Meta-Awareness

I think the most wondrous product of creation and evolution is human consciousness — that is, our capacity for becoming aware of the processes at work in our own awareness.   As a perceptual psychologist, I look at how we form perceptions, cognitively and sensually, and how our perceptions shape our reality and identity. I’m fascinated with the processes of clarifying one’s perceptions and expanding one’s sense of identity — i.e., discovering the many sources of energy and personality within us beneath the surface and learning to express all of those energies creatively while stepping out of the trap of “This is who I am.”

Identity is a belief that clings to a particular set of energies and resists other energies, leading to a protected space of selective perception. When we free ourselves from addiction to specific identities and learn to express all energies creatively, we discover an unexpected expansion of the meaning and enjoyment of our life.

A profound and transformative skill is to observe as an outsider the beliefs we’re holding that may be undermining our effectiveness.   The Work of Byron Katie provides a simple process for inquiring into beliefs to determine by examination whether or not they are true.

Many of us have not fully discovered a moment-to-moment awareness of our sensations — that is, what we’re feeling within our body as if we were connected to the sensations in every organ, every joint, every muscle, every part of our body all at once. In fact, we are. That sense connection is a source of profound meaning and a satisfying feeling of being.

Modes of Perception

• Systems Thinking — observing as an outsider (what might be thought of as “masculine” perception)
• Sensual Connection — observing as an insider (what might be thought of as “feminine” perception)

Dan is a Certified Facilitator of Voice Dialogue.

Voice Dialogue is about becoming more conscious and more alive in our relationships, especially with ourselves. It’s a playful, acceptance-based process that enables us …

1. to be more flexible in how we face the circumstances of our lives
   
2. to mature gracefully
   
3. to become more fully present with our significant others
   

Through the Voice Dialogue process, we learn to see things from any perspective by freeing ourselves from ego identification (“This is who I am.”) associated with any particular point of view — that is, learning to “hear” the voices (selves, personas, sub-personalities) in our personality without identifying with them. This enables us to integrate the energies in us that may have become overly strong in how we express ourselves and to integrate the energies we’ve repressed, pushed away or disowned. The result is deepening trust and understanding — of our selves and of others’ selves. And less self-create stress.

Deepening Sensual Connection is a workshop about experiencing ourselves and each other more deeply through the senses.

The Sentient Body

The Work of Byron Katie

Chair Yoga

1. With your feet a little in front of you, move your belly button in a circle, as if you’re slowly twirling a hula hoop. Circle in both directions.
   
2. Resting your arms on the armrests, slowly point your chin in a circle, reaching to the comfortable limit of motion in each direction around the circle. Circle in both directions.
   
3. Sitting at the edge of the seat, stretch your legs out in front of you, straighten your knees, grab your ankles, and pull your belly button toward your thighs.
   
4. Reach your left elbow straight up in the air. With your right hand, pull your left elbow toward the back of your chair. Hold for 10+ seconds. Do the same on the other side.
   

Systems Thinking

Systems Theory
Introduction to Systems Thinking — an approach to understanding the behavior of complex systems over time. It deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behavior of the entire system. What makes using system dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use of feedback loops, stocks and flows. These elements help describe how even seemingly simple systems display baffling nonlinearity.
System Dynamics Modeling — Using system dynamics modeling of a "bathtub dynamic," here’s how to show people the quantitative impact of CO2 on climate change and how the most common proposals for dealing with the problem will affect the rate at which CO2 will build up in the atmosphere.

Best Practices in Technology Management
Guiding Principles of Team Effectiveness
"Where Good Ideas Come From" by Steven Johnson (video 4:00) — Steven’s TED presentation (video 18:00) 
Basic Concepts of Quality Management
Balanced Scorecard — Handbook for Basic Process Improvement

Murphy’s Law and its corollaries